Written Answers Thursday 22 January 2009

Scottish Executive

Ambulance Service

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many accident and emergency staff were employed by the Scottish Ambulance Service in NHS (a) Highland, (b) Grampian, (c) Western Isles, (d) Orkney and (e) Shetland in (i) 2007 and (ii) 2008, broken down by month.

Shona Robison: The information is not held in the format requested. However, the numbers of accident and emergency staff in the North Operating Division, covering these NHS board areas, are set out below. Staff numbers are still recorded under the previous structure of two operating divisions.

  North East Operating Division

  

 January 2007
 230
 July 2007
 233


 February 2007
 231
 August 2007
 233


 March 2007
 231
 September 2007
 233


 April 2007
 231
 October 2007
 233


 May 2007
 232
 November 2007
 233


 June 2007
 232
 December 2007
 234



  

 January 2008
 236
 July 2008
 243


 February 2008
 236
 August 2008
 244


 March 2008
 236
 September 2008
 245


 April 2008
 238
 October 2008
 245


 May 2008
 240
 November 2008
 245


 June 2008
 240
 December 2008
 247



  North and West Operating Division

  

 January 2007
 212
 July 2007
 215


 February 2007
 214
 August 2007
 216


 March 2007
 215
 September 2007
 216


 April 2007
 215
 October 2007
 216


 May 2007
 215
 November 2007
 217


 June 2007
 215
 December 2007
 217



  

 January 2008
 217
 July 2008
 223


 February 2008
 217
 August 2008
 223


 March 2008
 219
 September 2008
 223


 April 2008
 219
 October 2008
 223


 May 2008
 220
 November 2008
 223


 June 2008
 222
 December 2008
 223



  Notes:

  *Information provided by the Scottish Ambulance Service.

  **Accident and emergency staff comprise paramedics, technicians, paramedic team leaders and urgent tier ambulance care assistants.

  ***Figures are for total staff numbers.

Ambulance Service

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many staff were employed in each emergency medical dispatch centre (EMDC) in (a) 2007 and (b) 2008, broken down by month.

Shona Robison: The information requested is set out in the following table.

  

 
 South West
 North West
 South East


 January 2007
 71
 40
 54


 February 2007
 71
 40
 54


 March 2007
 75
 40
 54


 April 2007
 75
 40
 56


 May 2007
 75
 40
 56


 June 2007
 76
 40
 57


 July 2007
 80
 40
 57


 August 2007
 79
 40
 57


 September 2007
 79
 40
 59


 October 2007
 79
 40
 60


 November 2007
 79
 40
 60


 December 2007
 81
 40
 64


 January 2008
 81
 40
 64


 February 2008
 82
 41
 68


 March 2008
 82
 41
 67


 April 2008
 82
 43
 68


 May 2008
 86
 43
 74


 June 2008
 87
 43
 74


 July 2008
 87
 43
 76


 August 2008
 87
 43
 78


 September 2008
 90
 46
 82


 October 2008
 96
 47
 88


 November 2008
 97
 47
 89


 December 2008
 100
 49
 90



  Notes:

  *Information provided by the Scottish Ambulance Service.

  **EMDC staff comprise call takers, dispatchers, EMDC supervisors, EMDC shift managers, EMDC admin managers, EMDC data administrators, AMPDS (Advanced Medical Priority Dispatch System) auditors, AMPDS supervisors and centralised workforce planners.

  ***Figures are for total staff numbers.

Ambulance Service

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many staff vacancies there were in the Scottish Ambulance Air Wing in (a) 2006, (b) 2007 and (c) 2008, broken down by month.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Ambulance Service has advised that fixed-wing staff are paramedics employed on a rotational basis on both the aircraft and on road vehicles. The rosters and staff ratio mix allows for the necessary cover for both air and road requirements. If vacancies occur on air shifts these are managed by the remaining staff undertaking more air shifts until the vacancy is filled. This preserves complete cover for the aircraft.

  Rotary wing (Helimed) staff are paramedics who are, in general, seconded for a three to five year period. The Scottish Ambulance Service has provided the following information in relation to Helimed vacancies:

  (a) one vacancy during 2006

  (b) two vacancies during 2007

  (c) two vacancies during 2008.

  The current two vacancies are in the process of being filled.

Apprenticeships

John Park (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to the supplementary to question S3F-1302 by Alex Salmond on 18 December 2008 ( Official Report c. 13584), what measures will be undertaken by Skills Development Scotland in conjunction with Partnership Action for Continuing Employment (PACE) teams to meet the needs of apprentices facing unemployment.

Fiona Hyslop: Our priority is to ensure that as many apprentices as possible can complete their training with an employer. Where an apprentice is made redundant, we expect Skills Development Scotland (SDS) to work with the relevant Sector Skills Councils and Trade Bodies to make every effort to secure alternative employment to enable apprentices to complete their training in work.

  Where this proves impossible, we are working with Skills Development Scotland and the Scottish Funding Council to ensure that apprentices made redundant have the opportunity to complete an appropriate and relevant qualification.

  All modern apprentices who face redundancy are able to access the services available through the Partnership Action for Continuing Employment (PACE). On 12 January I announced a package of measures to strengthen PACE to enable more individuals to make use of the services provided.

Asthma

John Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the report from Asthma UK Scotland commissioned by NHS Quality Improvement Scotland, In their Own Words, Asthma services in Scotland from the perspective of children and young people , whether further training will be provided to non-healthcare professionals regarding the monitoring and treatment of children or young people with asthma.

Shona Robison: Training for non-healthcare professionals is a local issue and should be provided through continuing professional development.

  The Scottish Government issued guidance on the Administration of Medicines in Schools in 2001. The guidance emphasises that it is for NHS boards to ensure that appropriate arrangements are in place with education authorities but is also clear that it is essential that NHS boards and education authorities work together to ensure that appropriate arrangements are put in place in relation to the administration of medicines in schools. The guidance recommends that staff in schools who are involved in the health care of children receive appropriate training.

  In addition, the Health and Wellbeing in Schools project started in September last year there are four demonstration sites, each of which is at a different stage of implementation. The aim of the project is to increase healthcare capacity in schools.

Children

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what support is given for bereavement care for school-age children.

Maureen Watt: Education authorities have a duty under the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004 to make adequate and efficient provision for the additional support required by children or young people with additional support needs, including those who have experienced a bereavement and, as a result, require additional support to enable them to benefit from school education. Advice and support on bereavement care is available from the charity CRUSE Bereavement Care who receive core funding from the Scottish Government to specifically support their work with children suffering due to bereavement. As part of their Youth Involvement Project, CRUSE have a section of their website dedicated to bereavement care for children. The website address is www.rd4u.org.uk .

Children's Hearing System

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the duration of appointments to the children’s panel advisory committees has been reduced from three years to one and, if so, for what reason.

Adam Ingram: Scottish ministerial appointments normally run from 1 January and may last from one to five years. Appointments to the Children’s Panel Advisory Committees usually last for a three-year term.

  As part of the consultation on the reform of the Children’s Hearings System the Scottish Government has proposed transferring the functions of the Children’s Panel Advisory Committees (CPAC) from local authorities to a new national body. On that basis, and until the future position is confirmed, the terms of appointments to CPAC have been limited to the end of December 2010. This does not affect the potential for extending the terms of appointment if appropriate.

Children's Hearing System

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many eight to 12-year-olds have been referred to the children’s hearing system on offence grounds in each local authority area in each of the last three years.

Adam Ingram: The following Table provides the information requested.

  Number of Children Referred on Offence Grounds Aged Eight to 12 Years (Inclusive) at Receipt of the Report

  

 
 2007-08
 2006-07
 2005-06


 Scotland
 2,861
 3,365
 3,624


 Aberdeen City
 93
 114
 115


 Aberdeenshire
 99
 86
 68


 Angus
 51
 49
 69


 Argyll and Bute
 37
 45
 73


 Clackmannanshire
 61
 73
 68


 Dumfries and Galloway
 92
 96
 134


 Dundee
 79
 149
 218


 East Ayrshire
 78
 100
 125


 East Dunbartonshire
 28
 20
 13


 East Lothian
 23
 23
 15


 East Renfrewshire
 16
 23
 21


 Edinburgh, City of
 137
 165
 181


 Eilean Siar
 14
 11
 22


 Falkirk
 117
 140
 156


 Fife
 236
 354
 275


 Glasgow
 435
 579
 528


 Highland
 165
 157
 186


 Inverclyde
 38
 48
 56


 Midlothian
 47
 67
 51


 Moray
 70
 74
 85


 North Ayrshire
 117
 119
 149


 North Lanarkshire
 258
 241
 267


 Orkney
 5
 9
 9


 Perth and Kinross
 35
 54
 81


 Renfrewshire
 50
 72
 100


 Scottish Borders
 45
 45
 55


 Shetland
 6
 7
 10


 South Ayrshire
 68
 88
 78


 South Lanarkshire
 144
 150
 139


 Stirling
 84
 69
 87


 West Dunbartonshire
 61
 66
 109


 West Lothian
 76
 76
 87



  Notes:

  1. Data extracted from SCRA’s Referrals Administration Database (RAD)

  2. Figures above also include children with offences dealt with by the Procurator Fiscal in the Criminal Justice System, but which were originally jointly reported to the reporter.

Community Service Orders

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average cost per day is of administering a community service order.

Kenny MacAskill: The 12 months average cost of administering a community service order in the 2007-08 financial year was £2,184. The nature of the service and the fact that individual orders can vary significantly in duration means that it is not possible to give a realistic average daily cost.

Crime

Andrew Welsh (Angus) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to seek out innovative methods for reducing crime levels locally and nationally.

Fergus Ewing: Making Scotland safer and stronger will require us all to work together more effectively. The Scottish Government encourages innovation through our sponsorship of national bodies such as the Scottish Business Crime Centre and the Violence Reduction Unit. These centres of excellence in turn support local agencies in developing innovative approaches to crime reduction.

  A local initiative that I believe shows the kind of simple but innovative thinking we need are Street Pastors, who already operate in Aberdeen, Dunfermline, Perth, and Inverness. Popular with the police, local authorities and communities, providing practical support to vulnerable people – handing out blankets, flip-flops to replace high heels and arranging taxis to get people home safely.

Drug and Alcohol Misuse

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of motorists caught drug driving represents (a) repeat and (b) first-time offenders in each local authority area in the Lothians in the most recent year for which information is available.

Kenny MacAskill: Figures for driving convictions involving drugs alone are not available. For data on drink/drug driving offences I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-19666 on 22 January 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

Drug and Alcohol Misuse

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of motorists caught drink driving represents (a) repeat and (b) first-time offenders in each local authority area in the Lothians in the most recent year for which information is available.

Kenny MacAskill: Figures for drink driving convictions alone are not available. The following table provides information relating to drink or drug driving convictions.

  Persons1 with a Charge Proved during 2006-07 for Drink/Drug Driving Related Offences2:

  Breakdown by Approximate Local Authority Area3 and whether or not First-Time Offenders4

  

 Local Authority Area
Number ofall Offenders
PercentageFirst-Time Offenders4
Percentage RepeatOffenders4


 East Lothian 
 103
 88
 12


 Edinburgh, City of 
 671
 91
 9


 West Lothian 
 241
 92
 8


 Lothians
 1,015
 91
 9



  Notes:

  1. Each person who was convicted of such an offence in 2006-07 is counted only once.

  2. Where main offence.

  3. Incorporates an approximate mapping of sheriff courts into local authority areas. Some sheriff courts will deal with cases from more than one local authority area. Midlothian does not contain a sheriff court.

  4. "First-time offenders" relates to those individuals who were sentenced on one occasion for an offence of this type in 2006-07 and had no other convictions for an offence of this type in the last 10 years (1997-98 to 2006-07). "Repeat offenders" contains everyone whose most recent conviction in 2006-07 was not the only one of this type they had committed in the last 10 years.

Early Years Framework

Michael McMahon (Hamilton North and Bellshill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how the Early Years Framework will support parents and enable families to maximise disabled children’s abilities in every local authority area.

Adam Ingram: The Early Years Framework has been developed jointly by the Scottish Government and COSLA and sets out the joint commitment of national and local government to improving outcomes for children and families.

  The framework is based on the principles of early intervention. Key to this will be earlier identification of children and families with particular support needs, including disabled children, and provision of timely and appropriate support to meet those needs.

  The framework includes a proposal to develop an indicator covering inclusion and outcomes for disabled children as part of a suite of improved local indicators. The detail of how services will be delivered locally to support improved outcomes is a matter for each individual community planning partnership under the single outcome agreement (SOA) process. The framework offers an analysis of key elements that will contribute to improved outcomes in early years that local partners can draw on in developing their SOAs.

Health

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to expand the Scottish Driving Assessment Service.

Nicola Sturgeon: There are no plans to expand the Scottish Driving Assessment Service.

Health

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider establishing a permanent base for the Scottish Driving Assessment Service in the west of Scotland.

Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government does not believe there is a strong business case identifying the need for this service.

Health

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients were referred to the Scottish Driving Assessment Service in 2007-08 and for the first nine months of 2008-09, broken down by NHS board.

Nicola Sturgeon: The number of patients referred to the Scottish Driving Assessment Service in 2007-08, broken down by NHS board, was:

  

 NHS Board
 Number of Referrals Received


 Ayrshire and Arran
 66


 Borders
 44


 Dumfries and Galloway
 39


 Fife 
 123


 Forth Valley 
 71


 Grampian
 124


 Greater Glasgow
 219


 Highland 
 63


 Lanarkshire
 120


 Lothian
 342


 Orkney
 2


 Shetland
 1


 Tayside
 74


 Western Isles
 4


 Total
 1,292



  Information concerning the number of patients referred to the Scottish Driving Assessment Service for the first nine months of 2008-09, broken down by NHS board, is not held centrally.

Health

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients had to wait for an assessment from the Scottish Driving Assessment Service in 2007-08 and for the first nine months of 2008-09, also showing the waiting period, broken down by NHS board.

Nicola Sturgeon: This information is not held centrally.

Health

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average annual pattern and duration is of visits by the mobile unit of the Scottish Driving Assessment Service.

Nicola Sturgeon: The average annual pattern by the mobile unit of the Scottish Driving Assessment Service, taking 2007-08 as the reference year, is:

  

 Mobile Service Site
Number and Duration of Visits
Total Number of Patients Seen


 Inverness 
 3 visits lasting 4 weeks
 29


 Aberdeen 
 4 visits lasting 7 weeks
 64


 Dundee 
 4 visits lasting 6 weeks
 51


 Paisley 
 8 visits lasting 18 weeks
 147


 Irvine 
 4 visits lasting 7 weeks
 56


 Dumfries 
 5 visits lasting 6 weeks
 33

Housing

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-16514 by Stewart Maxwell on 6 October 2008, whether it will list the amounts allocated to housing associations for home adaptations for disabled people in (a) 2006-07, (b) 2007-08 and (c) 2008 to date, broken down by housing association.

Stewart Maxwell: We do not centrally record the amount of funding allocated to housing associations for home adaptations for disabled people. However, we do record the actual amounts spent by housing associations on home adaptations. The figures for 2006-07, 2007-08 and 2008 to date broken down by housing association are as follows:

  Adaptation Spend by Housing Association from 2006-07 to 2008-09 (to 13 January 2009)

  

 Housing Association
Spend
2006-07
Spend
2007-08
Spend
2008-09 to13-01-09


 Abbeyfield Atholl Society Ltd
 3,596.00
 0
 0


 Abbeyfield Black Isle Soc Ltd
 6,260.73
 2,130.05
 0


 Abbeyfield Inverness Soc Ltd
 
 2,536.12
 2,536.12


 Abbeyfield Breadalbane Soc Ltd
 1,406.48
 0
 0


 Abbeyfield Kyles Of Bute Society Ltd
 0
 15,427.50
 0


 Aberdeenshire Housing Partnership
 28,022.18
 5,118.00
 28,804.92


 Abertay Housing Association Ltd
 106,937.24
 105,378.65
 138,385.13


 Abronhill Housing Association Ltd
 29,732.30
 29,917.60
 8,915.21


 Albyn H S Ltd
 95,077.54
 158,080.28
 85,152.03


 Almond Housing Association Ltd
 103,316.04
 121,636.51
 109,226.35


 Angus Housing Association Ltd
 132,604.31
 117,356.01
 85,836.25


 Antonine Housing Co-Operative
 0
 13,509.12
 0


 Ardenglen H A Ltd
 23,072.52
 30,931.06
 19,439.24


 Argyll Community Ha
 0
 237,099.61
 247,403.69


 Ark H A Ltd
 32,284.10
 44,553.17
 44,969.47


 Arklet Housing Association
 58,507.03
 58,805.44
 11,283.39


 Atrium Homes
 62,670.79
 55,873.39
 56,554.49


 Ayrshire Housng
 48,335.59
 117,936.13
 66,262.21


 Ayrshire North Community Housing
 36,784.68
 27,830.87
 8,083.43


 Barony H A Ltd
 17,246.71
 16,632.22
 24,188.12


 Barrhead H A Ltd
 32,479.33
 103,775.93
 56,864.74


 Bellsmyre H A Ltd
 36,138.40
 54,761.73
 23,510.15


 Berwickshire Housing Assoc. Ltd
 96,504.84
 128,887.21
 89,206.33


 Bield H A Ltd
 756,700.95
 753,104.29
 622,661.00


 Blairtummock H A Ltd
 9,966.39
 31,130.33
 25,560.59


 Blochairn Housing Co-Op Ltd
 7,937.79
 14,160.60
 5,502.00


 Bridgewater Housing Association Ltd
 30,736.19
 20,487.38
 6,242.57


 Broomhouse Housing Assoc Ltd
 0
 596.30
 596.30


 Buidheann Tigheadas Loch Aillse
 59,368.05
 66,245.19
 79,118.64


 Cadder H A Ltd
 32,384.87
 0
 22,292.25


 Cairn Housing Association Ltd
 220,409.14
 244,812.75
 226,349.01


 Calvay Co-Operative Limited
 23,688.10
 18,644.40
 17,605.40


 Cassiltoun Housing Association Limited
 17,327.44
 15,541.67
 27,961.47


 Castlehill H A Ltd
 55,556.51
 96,354.56
 108,842.28


 Castle Rock Edinvar H A Ltd
 257,357.47
 294,113.88
 264,803.61


 Cathcart & District H A Ltd
 17,437.59
 7,370.00
 3,290.78


 Cernach Housing Association Limited
 30,639.90
 10,747.20
 6,979.70


 Charing Cross H A Ltd
 24,423.59
 15,471.50
 17,143.50


 Cloch H A Ltd
 45,456.82
 83,961.12
 42,316.46


 Clydebank H A Ltd
 67,101.55
 49,115.91
 25,565.02


 Clydesdale H A Ltd
 103,609.78
 84,990.97
 15,942.30


 Clyde Valley Housing Assoc. Ltd
 119,999.23
 124,998.22
 109,308.32


 Copperworks Housing Co-Op Ltd
 12,667.32
 13,833.75
 3,825.00


 Cordale Housing Association Ltd
 27,738.24
 23,893.51
 22,464.93


 Craigdale H A Ltd
 5,140.08
 5,036.21
 2,448.38


 Cube H A Ltd
 155,607.95
 152,982.93
 98,684.15


 Cumbernauld Housing Partnership
 84,003.06
 60,317.96
 59,122.73


 Cunninghame H A Ltd
 65,714.46
 93,902.41
 74,687.60


 Dalmuir Park H A Ltd
 19,371.82
 32,629.65
 0


 Drumchapel Housing Co-Op Ltd
 44,806.90
 39,660.36
 39,198.81


 Dumfries & Galloway Housing Ptn
 0
 662,808.80
 325,784.23


 Dunbritton Housing Assoc Ltd
 44,796.92
 34,238.94
 36,764.11


 Dunedin Canmore Housing Association Ltd
 182,321.53
 131,914.95
 65,820.65


 Easthall Park Housing C0-Op
 18,684.35
 8,175.15
 12,962.99


 East Kilbride & District H A
 52,467.55
 144,926.37
 15,544.19


 East Lothian H A Ltd
 50,605.13
 117,174.32
 80,753.27


 Eildon H A Ltd
 69,205.11
 90,652.29
 98,009.64


 Elderpark H A Ltd
 16,862.53
 47,152.25
 14,048.11


 Faifley Housing Association
 12,314.50
 13,553.63
 14,223.07


 Fairfield Housing Co-Op Ltd
 13,568.78
 29,612.87
 17,362.95


 Ferguslie Park Housing Association Ltd
 32,187.33
 65,165.71
 55,115.17


 Fife Special Housing Assoc Ltd
 83,777.29
 82,469.04
 84,702.86


 Forgewood Housing Co-Op Ltd
 5,467.40
 18,393.32
 27,789.30


 Forth H A Ltd
 11,169.75
 29,237.78
 31,175.91


 Fyne Homes Ltd
 47,394.27
 118,805.33
 68,056.98


 Gardeen Housing Co-Op Ltd
 8,720.25
 7,314.95
 9,897.25


 Garrion People’s Housing Co-Op
 10,033.02
 33,512.44
 15,757.67


 Glasgow West H A Ltd
 29,204.03
 22,664.50
 25,068.72


 Glen Housing Association Ltd
 24,746.70
 27,936.06
 9,416.55


 Glen Oaks Housing Association Ltd
 67,971.93
 35,960.41
 39,306.24


 Govan H A Ltd
 28,342.42
 32,058.20
 23,315.05


 Govanhill H A Ltd
 44,354.20
 30,003.12
 40,619.52


 Grampian H A Ltd
 59,328.34
 99,022.30
 75,211.16


 Hanover (Scotland) H A Ltd
 763,268.44
 622,895.75
 448,239.95


 Hawthorn Housing Co-Op Ltd
 3,482.92
 4,125.55
 7,895.27


 Hebridean Housing Partnership Ltd
 0
 200,902.89
 108,707.13


 Hillcrest H A Ltd
 161,336.71
 124,046.30
 105,159.86


 Hillhead H A 2000
 30,911.07
 34,303.90
 25,323.88


 Hjaltland H A Ltd
 27,970.53
 18,551.50
 18,551.50


 Home In Scotland Ltd
 22,498.26
 97,954.37
 171,607.86


 Horizon H A Ltd
 148,458.68
 95,088.91
 58,539.72


 Irvine Housing Association
 79,461.98
 116,339.47
 42,255.92


 Kendoon Housing Association Limited
 7,521.80
 6,457.00
 0


 Key H A Ltd
 107,543.31
 89,524.69
 68,781.02


 Kincardine Housing Co-Op
 210.56
 9,121.20
 9,121.20


 Kingdom H A Ltd
 134,300.12
 182,271.04
 164,421.50


 Kingsridge Cleddans H A Ltd
 5,527.50
 3,092.10
 5,769.50


 Knowes H A Ltd
 43,142.20
 20,147.24
 39,919.43


 Lanarkshire Housing Association Ltd
 40,979.58
 42,572.37
 18,377.63


 Langstane H A Ltd
 20,201.86
 51,325.22
 54,462.68


 Larkfield Housing Assoc. Ltd
 21,116.67
 23,680.17
 15,042.22


 Link Group
 165,215.29
 252,671.27
 163,010.33


 Linstone Housing Assoc Ltd
 25,359.13
 53,776.06
 15,962.10


 Linthouse H A Ltd
 53,685.15
 68,068.80
 29,383.81


 Lister Housing Co-Op Limited
 557.69
 1,257.42
 1,201.05


 Lochaber H A Ltd
 29,839.75
 32,197.74
 7,400.14


 Lochfield Park Co-Operative Ltd
 13,190.10
 10,606.09
 0


 Loreburn H A Ltd
 228,062.04
 276,902.87
 234,178.87


 Loretto H A Ltd
 92,683.03
 44,692.11
 41,804.61


 Manor Estates Housing Association Ltd
 53,857.91
 55,110.52
 40,000.00


 Maryhill H A Ltd
 28,582.40
 37,074.84
 52,987.33


 Melville Housing Association Ltd
 120,704.92
 89,169.00
 71,012.69


 Milnbank H A Ltd
 38,791.87
 25,881.90
 38,311.90


 Minerva H A Ltd
 6,533.50
 16,553.51
 0


 Molendinar Park H A Ltd
 19,825.44
 43,572.12
 39,367.14


 Moray Housing Partnership Ltd
 4,280.87
 13,216.02
 15,242.72


 Muirhouse Housing Assoc. Ltd
 21,299.03
 1,133.81
 3,798.13


 New Gorbals H A Ltd
 123,094.43
 98,835.37
 86,856.45


 North Glasgow H.A.
 84,543.58
 118,791.09
 117,920.22


 North View Housing Association
 34,226.41
 40,749.41
 66,647.75


 Oak Tree Housing Association
 72,340.99
 97,133.07
 15,616.92


 Ochil View H A Ltd
 130,925.60
 61,080.78
 125,775.57


 Ore Valley Housing Association
 34,638.54
 23,896.85
 10,630.54


 Orkney H A Ltd
 81,860.19
 7,302.08
 21,185.24


 Paisley South Housing Assoc Ltd
 20,257.33
 17,035.25
 14,120.80


 Paragon Housing Association
 50,839.29
 81,350.28
 54,096.18


 Parkhead Housing Association Limited
 95,388.78
 59,852.71
 65,168.02


 Partick H A Ltd
 42,925.54
 77,004.14
 42,863.42


 Pentland Housing Association Ltd
 31,641.20
 16,896.49
 10,591.90


 Perthshire Housing Association Ltd
 34,206.99
 40,040.35
 45,617.60


 Pineview Housing Co-Op Ltd
 6,796.27
 27,102.23
 39,112.09


 Port Glasgow H A Ltd
 0
 23,156.96
 0


 Port Of Leith H A Ltd
 81,884.92
 121,122.66
 50,000.00


 Prospect Community Housing
 15,499.58
 42,626.62
 24,332.33


 Provanhall Housing Association Limited
 8,916.80
 4,230.60
 163.20


 Queen’s Cross H A Ltd
 119,279.60
 93,264.04
 86,574.40


 Reidvale H A Ltd
 19,288.86
 49,123.00
 38,687.15


 River Clyde Homes
 0
 117,097.83
 117,097.83


 Rosehill Housing Co-Op Ltd
 31,097.67
 45,152.18
 43,097.24


 Ruchazie Housing Association
 15,227.71
 3,181.86
 4,086.94


 Rural Stirling H A Ltd
 136,425.84
 17,069.75
 55,139.69


 Rutherglen & Cambuslang H A Ltd
 9,220.60
 90,495.68
 25,182.37


 Sanctuary Scotland Housing Association
 52,884.33
 55,789.57
 77,591.23


 Scottish Borders H A Ltd
 596,351.27
 568,397.80
 320,239.84


 Servite H A (Scotland) Ltd
 130,508.26
 192,726.08
 110,052.19


 Shettleston H A Ltd
 124,707.24
 146,420.69
 111,697.02


 Shire Housing Association Ltd
 83,008.52
 52,252.09
 30,940.22


 Southside H A Ltd
 38,613.65
 25,882.20
 43,765.57


 Spireview Housing Assoc Ltd
 18,723.69
 12,999.09
 23,832.51


 Tenants First Housing Co-Op
 93,370.41
 168,202.97
 120,844.62


 The Margaret Blackwood H A Ltd
 285,199.67
 231,377.17
 171,894.26


 Thenew H A Ltd
 141,767.71
 296,842.72
 71,612.49


 Thistle Housing Association
 50,494.58
 50,803.55
 58,103.96


 Tollcross H A Ltd
 58,852.68
 30,687.72
 9,075.56


 Trafalgar Housing Association Limited
 7,644.58
 13,706.92
 9,608.74


 Trust Housing Association Limited
 581,923.16
 649,286.68
 255,438.13


 Viewpoint H A Ltd
 126,641.86
 143,610.32
 76,619.37


 Waverley Housing
 30,247.11
 55,249.94
 0


 Wellhouse Housing Association Limited
 5,252.36
 2,905.76
 9,337.60


 Weslo Housing Management
 0
 76,672.16
 109,922.99


 West Granton Housing Co-Op Ltd
 13,203.90
 4,016.25
 4,539.00


 West Lothian Housing Partnership Ltd
 56,244.20
 9,744.90
 3,922.60


 West Of Scotland H A Ltd
 228,737.79
 295,670.71
 198,981.13


 West Whitlawburn Housing Co-Op
 201,083.97
 81,835.50
 54,427.06


 Whiteinch & Scotstoun H A Ltd
 31,120.13
 59,325.20
 42,174.23


 Williamsburgh H A Ltd
 30,057.86
 30,509.61
 10,475.23


 Wishaw & District Housing Association
 80,346.30
 62,759.54
 53,159.65


 Yoker H A Ltd
 28,475.97
 19,214.17
 14,772.57


 Yorkhill H A Ltd
 16,179.31
 12,240.00
 12,334.39


 Total
 11,072,218.87
 13,172,036.72
 9,503,602.76



  Note: *It should be noted that the actual spend figures for 2006-07 and 2007-08 differ from those provided in S3W-16514 due to coding errors.

Infant Mortality

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the rate of still births per 1,000 live births was in the last year for which information is available, broken down by NHS board.

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the rate of still births per 1,000 live births was in each of the last five years for which information is available, broken down by NHS board.

Shona Robison: Information on stillbirth rates per 1,000 total births (live and stillbirths) for years 2002-07 is published on the Scottish Health Statistics website under the SPIMMR (Scottish Perinatal Mortality and Morbidity Report) web pages and can be found at table 16 at the following address:

  http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/information-and-statistics.jsp?pContentID=3119&p_applic=CCC&p_service=Content.show&.

Infant Mortality

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the rate of late fetal deaths per 1,000 live births was in each of the last five years for which information is available, broken down by NHS board.

Shona Robison: Information on late fetal death rates (per 1,000 total births [live and still], plus late fetal deaths) is published on the Scottish Health Statistics website under the SPIMMR (Scottish Perinatal and Infant Mortality and Morbidity Report) web pages and can be found at table 19b in the individual reports for years 2002-07:

  http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/information-and-statistics.jsp?pContentID=3112&p_applic=CCC&p_service=Content.show&.

Infant Mortality

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the rate of neonatal deaths per 1,000 live births was in each of the last five years for which information is available.

Shona Robison: The information is published on the Scottish Health Statistics website under the SPIMMR (Scottish Perinatal Mortality and Morbidity Report) web pages and can be found at Table 1 at the following address http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/3113.html .

Justice

Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what efforts it is making to ensure that there is provision of effective justice services throughout Scotland.

Fergus Ewing: Protecting Scotland’s Communities: Fair, Fast and Flexible Justice published on 17 December 2008 sets out our plan for delivering a coherent offender management strategy building on effective justice services. Our plan incorporates the improvements in train through Summary Justice Reform, the findings of the independent Scottish Prisons Commission and the 2007 Review of Community Penalties.

  Tangible examples of our achievements are the £11 million invested in a range of projects for young people through the Cashback for Communities scheme; the £200,000 invested to support the collective violence initiative; £4 million record level of funding to Victim Support Scotland enabling them to support 180,000 victims and witnesses, and the publication of the first national drugs strategy in a decade.

Justice

Nigel Don (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive to what extent it believes a statement of prosecution policy would clarify the law on assisted dying.

Frank Mulholland QC: Whether there is to be a change in the law is a matter for the Scottish Parliament and not for the prosecution service.

  Cases of assisted death raise significant and competing public interest considerations which must be assessed on the basis of the particular facts and circumstances of the individual case. In the absence of a clear consensus on how society should respond to cases of assisted death it would be inappropriate for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service to define particular circumstances in which prosecution will not arise.

Justice

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many prison sentences of six months or less have been imposed in each police force area in the last year, broken down by type of offence.

Kenny MacAskill: The latest available information is given in the following tables:

  Persons Receiving a Custodial Sentence in Scottish Courts of Six Months or Less by Main Crime and Police Force Area1, 2006-07

  

 Main Crime or Offence
 Northern
 Grampian
 Tayside
 Fife


 All crimes and offences
 710
 1,021
 1,864
 804


 All crimes 
 349
 646
 1,247
 490


 Non-sexual crimes of violence
 10
 14
 28
 9


 Serious assault and attempted murder
 8
 7
 8
 3


 Robbery 
 1
 6
 12
 5


 Other 
 1
 1
 8
 1


 Crimes of indecency 
 5
 2
 4
 -


 Indecent assault 
 -
 -
 2
 -


 Lewd & indecent behaviour 
 4
 1
 1
 -


 Other 
 1
 1
 1
 -


 Crimes of dishonesty 
 173
 418
 733
 326


 Housebreaking 
 29
 87
 84
 55


 Theft by opening a lockfast place 
 6
 19
 44
 15


 Theft of/from a motor vehicle 
 9
 20
 31
 17


 Shoplifting 
 71
 193
 371
 144


 Other theft 
 36
 62
 140
 75


 Fraud 
 14
 12
 12
 7


 Other 
 8
 25
 51
 13


 Fire-raising, vandalism, etc 
 32
 17
 36
 24


 Fire-raising 
 3
 1
 3
 1


 Vandalism etc 
 29
 16
 33
 23


 Other crimes 
 129
 195
 446
 131


 Crimes against public justice 
 87
 109
 318
 85


 Handling an offensive weapon 
 19
 31
 48
 23


 Drugs 
 22
 52
 80
 18


 Other 
 1
 3
 -
 5


 All offences
 361
 375
 617
 314


 Miscellaneous offences 
 301
 301
 515
 263


 Common assault 
 131
 104
 161
 62


 Breach of the peace 
 136
 80
 111
 56


 Drunkenness 
 3
 -
 -
 -


 Breach of social work orders 
 21
 107
 225
 140


 Other 
 10
 10
 18
 5


 Motor vehicle offences 
 60
 74
 102
 51


 Dangerous and careless driving 
 11
 9
 9
 3


 Drunk driving 
 26
 15
 22
 8


 Unlawful use of vehicle 
 23
 50
 69
 39


 Other 
 -
 -
 2
 1



  

 Main Crime or Offence
 Lothian and Borders
 Central
 Strathclyde
Dumfriesand Galloway
 Scotland


 All crimes and offences
 2,023
 696
 7,034
 533
 14,686


 All crimes 
 1,061
 375
 3,867
 356
 8,392


 Non-sexual crimes of violence
 25
 6
 80
 6
 178


 Serious assault and attempted murder
 10
 3
 32
 2
 73


 Robbery 
 12
 3
 32
 3
 74


 Other 
 3
 -
 16
 1
 31


 Crimes of indecency 
 10
 -
 13
 -
 34


 Indecent assault 
 3
 -
 1
 -
 6


 Lewd & indecent behaviour 
 3
 -
 9
 -
 18


 Other 
 4
 -
 3
 -
 10


 Crimes of dishonesty 
 587
 215
 2,040
 202
 4,695


 Housebreaking 
 115
 40
 329
 25
 765


 Theft by opening a lockfast place 
 49
 9
 151
 11
 304


 Theft of/from a motor vehicle 
 23
 13
 108
 10
 231


 Shoplifting 
 226
 101
 1,002
 69
 2,177


 Other theft 
 97
 35
 245
 46
 736


 Fraud 
 24
 6
 42
 26
 143


 Other 
 53
 11
 163
 15
 339


 Fire-raising, vandalism, etc 
 52
 20
 193
 25
 399


 Fire-raising 
 4
 2
 7
 1
 22


 Vandalism etc 
 48
 18
 186
 24
 377


 Other crimes 
 387
 134
 1,541
 123
 3,086


 Crimes against public justice 
 209
 94
 686
 80
 1,668


 Handling an offensive weapon 
 89
 19
 603
 15
 847


 Drugs 
 71
 17
 234
 18
 512


 Other 
 18
 4
 18
 10
 59


 All offences
 962
 321
 3,167
 177
 6,294


 Miscellaneous offences 
 812
 280
 2,731
 145
 5,348


 Common assault 
 229
 107
 999
 48
 1,841


 Breach of the peace 
 246
 82
 1,025
 39
 1,775


 Drunkenness 
 -
 -
 1
 -
 4


 Breach of social work orders 
 294
 84
 628
 50
 1,549


 Other 
 43
 7
 78
 8
 179


 Motor vehicle offences 
 150
 41
 436
 32
 946


 Dangerous and careless driving 
 13
 4
 63
 1
 113


 Drunk driving 
 32
 3
 102
 5
 213


 Unlawful use of vehicle 
 105
 34
 265
 26
 611


 Other 
 -
 -
 6
 -
 9



  Note: 1. Figures for Scotland include one record where the police force area is unknown.

Justice

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people served non-custodial sentences for handling an offensive weapon in (a) 2006-07 and (b) 2007-08, broken down by type of disposal and police force area.

Kenny MacAskill: 2007-08 court proceedings data is planned for release in April 2009. Data for the latest year available (2006-07) is given in the following table.

  Persons with a Charge Proved in Scottish Courts for Handling an Offensive Weapon1 who did not Receive a Custodial Sentence, by Police Force Area, 2006-07

  

 Police Force Area
 Total Non-Custodial
 Community Sentence
 Monetary
 Other


 Central 
 81
 27
 41
 13


 Dumfries and Galloway
 55
 28
 24
 3


 Fife 
 74
 31
 37
 6


 Grampian 
 120
 28
 68
 24


 Lothian and Borders 
 306
 125
 145
 36


 Northern 
 78
 19
 51
 8


 Strathclyde 
 1,633
 755
 600
 278


 Tayside 
 143
 75
 50
 18


 Scotland
 2,490
 1,088
 1,016
 386



  Note: 1. Where main offence.

Justice

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of people convicted for handling an offensive weapon served a non-custodial sentence in (a) 2006-07 and (b) 2007-08, broken down by type of disposal and police force area.

Kenny MacAskill: 2007-08 court proceedings data is planned for release in April 2009. Data for the latest year available (2006-07) is given in the following table.

  Percentage of Persons Receiving Non-Custodial Sentences for Handling Offensive Weapons1 by Police Force Area, 2006-07

  

 Police Force Area
 All Persons with a Charge Proved (Number)
 Percentage of all Persons with a Charge Proved who Received Non-Custodial Sentences


 All Non-Custodial
 Community Sentence
 Monetary
 Other


 Central
 105
 77
 26
 39
 12


 Dumfries and Galloway
 73
 75
 38
 33
 4


 Fife
 102
 73
 30
 36
 6


 Grampian
 155
 77
 18
 44
 15


 Lothian and Borders
 411
 74
 30
 35
 9


 Northern
 98
 80
 19
 52
 8


 Strathclyde
 2,392
 68
 32
 25
 12


 Tayside
 198
 72
 38
 25
 9


 Scotland
 3,534
 70
 31
 29
 11



  Note: 1. Where main offence.

Justice

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-18495 by Kenny MacAskill on 12 December 2008, whether it considers that it would be useful to collect information on the number and type of offences carried out by people subject to bail orders.

Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government currently publishes information about offences committed by individuals on bail, although it is not currently possible to identify the type of original offence the bail order relates to. Data for the latest year available is contained in table 18 of the statistical bulletin Criminal Proceedings in Scottish Courts, 2006-07, which can be found on the Scottish Government website http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/06/02124526/0 .

Justice

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-18495 by Kenny MacAskill on 12 December 2008, whether it intends to take action to ensure that information on the number and type of offences carried out by people subject to bail orders will be made available.

Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government will continue to assess the appropriateness of the statistics that we produce in this area and to work with data customers and suppliers to ensure that user needs are met without placing a disproportionate burden on suppliers.

Justice

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-18495 by Kenny MacAskill on 12 December 2008, whether any police forces record information on the number and types of offences carried out by people subject to bail orders.

Kenny MacAskill: This is a matter for police forces. The information requested is not held centrally.

Justice

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much was spent on administering community sentences in each local authority in the last year, broken down by type of disposal.

Kenny MacAskill: Community Justice Authorities (CJAs) are responsible for the distribution of grant from the government for criminal justice social work services to the local authorities within their area. Information is not therefore held centrally on allocations to individual local authorities.

  The following table details the funding allocated to individual CJAs in financial year 2008-09 for the statutory community disposals:

  

 Service
Fife and Forth Valley(£)
Glasgow
(£)
Lanarkshire
(£)
Lothian and Borders
(£)
Northern
(£)


Community Service
 1,604,023
 2,177,340
 1,863,972
 2,205,206
 1,474,383


 Probation
 1,584,188
 1,958,638
 1,421,578
 1,447,352
 1,282,486


 Supervised Attendance Orders
 396,365
 1,295,013
 275,508
 317,609
 388,107


 Drug Treatment & Testing Orders (DTTOs)
 871,134
 350,733
 594,500
 2,145,098*
 676,459


 Total
 4,455,710
 5,781,724
 4,155,558
 6,115,265
 3,821,435



  

 Service
North Strathclyde
(£)
South West Scotland
(£)
Tayside
(£)
Scotland
(£)


 Community Service
 1,424,046
 1,664,911
 1,275,284
 13,689,165


 Probation
 998,952
 1,097,333
 905,453
 10,695,980


 Supervised Attendance Orders
 348,169
 528,055
 380,174
 3,928,999


 Drug Treatment & Testing Orders (DTTOs)
 1,118,705
 797,969
 584,899
 7,139,497


 Total
 3,889,872
 4,088,268
 3,145,810
 35,453,641



  Note: *Includes the allocation to the Lothians and Borders Community Justice Authority for the pilot exercise in relation to the use of DTTOs with lower tariff offenders.

Justice

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average cost per day is of administering a probation order.

Kenny MacAskill: The 12 months average cost of administering a probation order in the 2007-08 financial year was £1,229. The nature of the service and the fact that the order can vary significantly in duration means that it is not possible to give a realistic average daily cost for administering a Probation Order.

Justice

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average cost per day is of administering a supervised attendance order.

Kenny MacAskill: The 12 months average cost of administering a supervised attendance order in the 2007-08 financial year was £760. The nature of the service and the fact that an order can vary significantly in duration means that it is not possible to give a realistic average daily cost figure.

Justice

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the dates of meetings of the National Group to Address Violence Against Women since May 2007.

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the National Group to Address Violence Against Women will next meet.

Stewart Maxwell: The National Group to Address Violence Against Women has met on the following dates since May 2007:

  26 June 2007

  26 November 2007

  19 February 2008

  9 June 2008.

  The next meeting of the National Group will take place on 24 February 2009.

Mental Health

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of findings from the University of Stirling published in the British Journal of Psychiatry in January 2009, indicating that 13.8% of children self-harmed and a further 14.4% thought seriously about self-harm, what steps it has taken or will take to improve emotional literacy in schools.

Adam Ingram: The Scottish Government is supporting the development of emotional literacy in schools through legislation, curriculum development and specific projects.

  The Schools (Health Promotion and Nutrition) (Scotland) Act 2007 (the Act) imposes duties on the Scottish ministers, education authorities and managers of grant-aided schools to endeavour to ensure that public schools and grant-aided schools are health promoting. A health promoting school promotes the social, mental and emotional wellbeing of pupils in attendance at the school.

  The new health and wellbeing curriculum area within Curriculum for Excellence aims to develop the knowledge and understanding, skills, capabilities and attributes necessary for mental and emotional wellbeing now and in the future. Curriculum for Excellence draft experiences and outcomes for health and wellbeing, taken together with the Health Promotion guidance which accompanies the Act, provide opportunities for schools to enhance the mental, emotional, social and physical wellbeing of learners through lessons, extra curricular activities and by fostering a safe, caring, supportive, purposeful learning environment.

  We also continue to fund a Development Officer post at Learning Teaching Scotland, which focuses on positive mental health and support for those experiencing mental health problems in the schools environment throughout Scotland. This complements action to support the Scottish Government commitment to ensure that mental health link workers are available to all schools.

  In addition, the Scottish Government’s Positive Behaviour Team supports local authorities and schools to introduce and embed approaches to positive behaviour based on improved relationships, engagement and motivation, and emotional well being, such as Being Cool in School and the Growing Confidence Project.

  The government has supported the FRIENDS programme which is a classroom based programme designed to promote children’s resilience. Stirling Council have established a training franchise for FRIENDS which is now available as a CPD opportunity for all school staff and partners across Scotland.

  The Scottish Government also supports a resilience building project in Falkirk. The aim of the project is to develop a model of promoting emotional wellbeing in schools that will inform local and national developments. The project focuses on the transition between primary and secondary schools.

NHS Hospitals

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing has had with NHS Ayrshire and Arran regarding the timescale for setting up a new community unit at Ayrshire Central Hospital.

Nicola Sturgeon: I discussed the plans for the development of the Community Hospital in Irvine with NHS Ayrshire and Arran at the Annual Review meeting on 6 October 2008. The Scottish Government Capital Investment Group approved the Initial Agreement for the North Ayrshire Community Hospital in May 2008.

People with Learning Disabilities

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what work is being done on the introduction of processes for monitoring and measuring the provision and development of services for people with learning disabilities, broken down by local authority.

Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-19734 on 21 January 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx .

Race Equality

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when in 2009 the conference on race, referred to in the Scottish Government Race Equality Statement published on 8 December 2008, will take place.

Stewart Maxwell: No date has been set yet for the Race Equality Conference.

Roads

Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, following the end of the public inquiry into the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route, when ministers will report on the final decision.

Stewart Stevenson: The last sitting day of the Public Local Inquiry was 10 December 2008. It is anticipated at this stage that it will be the end of January before all the closing submissions have been received by the reporters.

  On receipt of the reporters’ report, careful consideration will be given by the Scottish ministers to its conclusions and recommendations, and a decision will be announced as soon as possible thereafter.

Scottish Environment Protection Agency

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-9054 by Michael Russell on 25 February 2008, which of the Scottish Government’s strategic priorities and objectives the Minister for Environment required the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) to work to and be aware of when he discussed with SEPA matters of process that might be unnecessarily holding up proper consideration by SEPA of Aviemore Highland Resort’s planning application.

Michael Russell: The approach was consistent with the Scottish Government’s objectives.

Scottish Inter Faith Council

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Scottish Inter Faith Council regarding funding awards and on which dates these discussions took place.

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what funding the Scottish Inter Faith Council will be awarded beyond 16 January 2009; what timescale this funding covers, and how this funding settlement compares with previous years.

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Scottish Inter Faith Council regarding staff redundancies and when these discussions took place.

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when it informed the Convener of the Scottish Inter Faith Council of the core grant funding that the council would receive beyond 16 January 2009.

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when it informed the chief executive officer of the Scottish Inter Faith Council of the core grant funding that the council would receive beyond 16 January 2009.

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when the notice sent to the Scottish Inter Faith Council to advise it of its funding award beyond 16 January 2009 was made publicly available.

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when it was made aware that eligible staff at the Scottish Inter Faith Council would receive redundancy notices in December 2008.

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when a final decision was taken on funding for the Scottish Inter Faith Council beyond 16 January 2009.

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what the reasons are for it not taking a decision until January 2009 on funding for the Scottish Inter Faith Council beyond 16 January 2009.

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what the reasons were for it not taking a decision regarding funding awards for the Scottish Inter Faith Council until after eligible staff had received redundancy notices.

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on whether any of the redundancy notices issued to eligible staff at the Scottish Inter Faith Council in December 2008 will be enforced.

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is a manual of good practice or official guidance available to the civil service on the process to be followed in awarding funding to organisations and, if so, whether such good practice was adhered to in the process of awarding funding to the Scottish Inter Faith Council.

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the process used in awarding funding to the Scottish Inter Faith Council followed best practice.

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that it is good practice for government to delay taking a decision on funding an organisation until after that organisation had issued redundancy notices to its staff.

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it will take to ensure that any delay over the decision on the funding settlement for the Scottish Inter Faith Council causing redundancy notices to be issued to eligible staff is not repeated in its funding decisions for other organisations.

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish all correspondence between it and the Scottish Inter Faith Council regarding its funding award beyond 16 January 2009.

Fergus Ewing: As the First Minister announced on 15 January, this matter has been referred to the panel of independent advisors on the Ministerial Code, which will report in due course.

  The Scottish Inter Faith Council welcomed the commitment to continue funding at the same level as previously, as acknowledged in their email of 6 January to the Minister for Community Safety.

Teachers

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many newly qualified teachers will graduate from Scottish educational institutions this year.

Fiona Hyslop: For the purposes of teacher workforce planning we estimate that around 3,100 new teachers will go on to be employed in the probationer induction scheme.